West End Extra Light

Brewed by South Australia Brewing (Lion Nathan Co.)
Style: Low Alcohol
Thebarton, Australia

Appearance: Transparent brownish yellow (caramel coloring?) with some white head. Aroma: Roasted grain, yeast and a little earthy hop. Flavor: Roasted grain and yeast charge in and then quickly retreats to leave a hollow mid-palate. A moderate hop bitterness lasts through the finish. Palate: A thin mid-palate and initial finish is quickly overpowered by an unpleasant, mouth puckeringly dry burnt grain flavor clearly intended to distract the drinker from the lack body and malt. Comment: It looks and smells like a beer, but this is not easy drinking as the main characteristics are burnt grain and bitterness which can only temporarily draw attention away from the the lack of fermented and unfermented malt sugars and body. In its defence, it is not innocuous as are Japanese "Hopposhu" drinks and it is cheaper at 85 yen/can versus 130yen/can.